Washoe County's Morrison named national superintendent of the year

Feb. 16, 2012

Written by

Washoe County schools Superintendent Heath Morrison on Thursday was named 2012 Superintendent of the Year by a national organization of education administrators, a first for a Nevada educator and likely a boost to the state’s sagging image on commitment to education.

Morrison received the award in the opening ceremony at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in Houston.

“I haven’t even really had a chance to think about it,” Morrison said moments after receiving the award and making remarks to the conference attendees. “I am humbled, and I accepted the award proudly on behalf of all our teachers, principals and support staff that work to make things better.”

Morrison, superintendent for Washoe County School District since 2009, has overseen the district’s graduation rate improve from 56 percent to 70 percent with increases in every student subgroup between 2009 and 2011. The district also has achieved test score gains that began to narrow the achievement gap in many subject areas.

He also is credited with fostering more community engagement by working with parents and involving community volunteers and business partnerships.

“Morrison’s focus on involving the entire community and the business community has been a laser focus,” said Randy Brown, chairman of the Chamber.

Brown called the award “a monumental announcement.”

“Especially, when you overlay the horrible economic conditions in which he did it,” Brown said. “The folks in economic development should be delighted about this announcement.”

Morrison being named the top superintendent in the nation bodes well when trying to recruit businesses to the Reno-Sparks area, Brown said.

“When you talk to economic development people, they will tell you one of the top two or three questions they will get when business are considering a region is, ‘Tell me about the education system,’” he said.

The announcement will be a talking point in discussions about the improvement of education in the region, said Mike Kazmierski, president/CEO of EDAWN, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.

“Superintendent Morrison has done a good job of moving that in the right direction, and the education growth is a positive we will use to promote from a job-attraction perspective,” Kazmierski said. “Education is incredibly important. The ability of our existing workforce to meet the needs of an employer is their top concern.”

“If we can’t meet their needs near-term and long-term, they’re not coming here,” he said.

Kazmierski said Morrison has not only rallied educators but the entire community.

Morrison has received numerous awards and honors including recognition as Superintendent of the Year in 2011 from the Nevada Association of School Superintendents and the Nevada Association of School Boards and the Distinguished Educational Leader Award from the Washington Post, among others.

Morrison said he will likely use the $10,000 he received to award a scholarship to a deserving student in the Washoe County School District who has worked hard to overcome steep odds and put themselves on the path to success.